For the postbachelor’s PhD degree, a total of 64 course credits is required. Of these, at least 32 of the credits must come from lecture, methods, or seminar courses as follows:

Required Core Courses

The following two courses are required and constitute a full year survey of knowledge in experimental neuroscience (8 credits):

• GRS BI 755/GMS AN 810 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience (4 cr)
• GRS BI 756/PS 738/GMS AN 811 Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience (4 cr)

The following courses constitute a survey of computational approaches to neuroscience. While one of the following courses may be taken to fulfill the computational neuroscience requirement, please check with the Program office regarding the availability of new computational training modules that will replace this curriculum as a requirement in the future. Alternative courses with different modeling perspectives are offered for both the systems and cellular levels of analysis. (4 credits).

• CAS PS 530 Neural Networks (4 cr)
• CAS CN 510 Principles & Methods of Cognitive & Neural Modeling I (4 cr)
• CAS CN 580 Introduction to Computational Neuroscience (4 cr)
• ENG BE 507 Quantitative Studies of Excitable Tissues (4 cr)

It is strongly recommended that at least one of the following methods courses be taken:

• CAS BI 575 Techniques in Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience (4 cr)
• CAS CN 500 Computational Methods in Cognitive & Neural Systems (4 cr)
• GMS AN 804 Methods in Neuroscience (4 cr)

Required Graduate Student Seminar Series (4 cr total)

• CAS NE 500/501 Frontiers in Neuroscience (2 cr each)

All students attend a weekly journal club/seminar course that reviews the key papers associated with moving the field forward and those of the Graduate Program for Neuroscience distinguished lecturers in the monthly seminar series. When possible, the Graduate Program for Neuroscience lecturer will attend the journal club before his/her talk to hear specific students give formal oral presentations that review and evaluate the work from their laboratory. A student is required to attend this seminar series throughout his/her graduate career, but may count only a total of 4 credits toward the degree.

Required Ethics Training

Training to be determined each academic year. It has included participation in four roundtable ethics discussions. It could include web-based training.

Required Laboratory Projects/Rotations (at least 4 cr.)

• CAS NE 800/801/802

This is a two-semester course offered the first year with 2 credits per semester. These three 7–10-week individual laboratory experiences are chosen from an extensive group of neuroscience research laboratories with diverse interests across the BU campuses. At least one rotation should be at a different campus, either at Charles River or the medical school. At the end of each rotation period, students are required to submit a rotation report, which requires approval by their rotation research mentor.

Alternative Computational Rotation

BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience students may sit in on the first several weeks of a computational course, preferably no fewer than 4–6 weeks, in order to derive maximal benefit from this experience. They would not be required to take tests. They should consult with both the Program Director and the professor who is teaching the course to arrange the rotation and to be sure that they come away with valuable new skills. In order to attain new skills, they will typically do some sort of limited computational project or homework. Students may also opt to take a full course, in addition to the required computational course in the subject areas including neural modeling and bioinformatics, to fulfill the computational requirement.

Elective Courses (at least 12 cr from the following list)

The illustrative courses listed below are 4 credits unless otherwise noted.

Courses with an experimental emphasis:

Anatomy and Neurobiology (MED)

• AN 702 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
• AN 707 Neurobiology of Aging
• AN 709 Neural Development and Plasticity (2 cr)
• AN 713 Autism: Clinical and Neuroscience Perspectives (2 cr)
• AN 716 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (2 cr)
• AN 720 Neurobiology of Education (2 cr)
• AN 804 Special Topics: History of Neuroscience (2 cr)
• AN 807 Neurobiology of Visual System (2 cr)
• AN 808 Neuroanatomical Basis of Neurological Disorders (2 cr)
• IM 690 Imaging of Neurologic Disease (2 cr)

Behavioral Neuroscience (MED)

• BN 766 Human Neuropsychology II
• BN 775 Human Neuropsychology I
• BN 778 Basic Neurosciences (4 cr) (also offered as GMS BN 777 for 3 credits, and 779 for 2 credits)
• BN 782 Forensic Neuropsychology (4 cr)
• BN 793 Adult Communication Disorders (4 cr)
• BN 794 Brain Asymmetries: Functional and Structural Differences between Hemispheres (4 cr)
• BN 795 Neuropsychology of Perception and Memory
• BN 796 Neuropsychological Assessment I
• BN 797 Neuropsychological Assessment II
• BN 798 Functional Neuroanatomy in Neuropsychology
• BN 821 Neuroimaging Seminar (2 cr)
• BN 893 Child Clinical Neuropsychology (4 cr)

Biochemistry (MED)

• BI 755 General Biochemistry I (4 cr)
• BI 756 General Biochemistry II (4 cr)
• BI 776 Gene Targeting in Transgenic Mice (2 cr)
• BI 782 Molecular Biology (2 cr)
• BI 783 Structure and Function of Proteins (2 cr)
• BI 789 Physical Biochemistry (2 cr)
• BI 790 Receptors and Signal Transduction (2 cr)

Biology (CAS)

• BI 545 Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
• BI 554 Neuroendocrinology
• BI 607 Animal Behavior
• BI 645 Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
• BI 655 Developmental Neurobiology
• BI 663 Chemosensory Biology
• BI 676 Neurobiology/Biophysics
• BI 681 Molecular Biology of the Neuron
• BI 744 Neuroethology

Health Sciences (SAR)

• HS 550 Neural Systems
• HS 582 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology
• HS 755 Principles of Organization of Cerebral Cortex

Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (MED)

• PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology
• PM 800 Advanced General Pharmacology (2 cr)
• PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences (2 cr)
• PM 820 Neuropsychopharmacology (2 cr)
• PM 830 Principles of Pharmacokinetics (2 cr)
• PM 832 Pharmacogenomics (2 cr)
• PM 840 Neuroendocrine Pharmacology
• PM 843 Pharmacologic Intervention in the Inflammatory Response (2 cr)
• PM 850 Biochemical Neuropharmacology (2 cr)
• PM 860 Electrophysiology and Pharmacology of the Synapse
• PM 880 Gene Regulation and Pharmacology (2 cr)
• PM 881 Drug Discovery and Development (2 cr)

Physiology (MED)

• BY 771 Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies (4 cr)
• BY 772 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Biology and Biophysics (2 cr)
• PH 542 Human Physiology (4 cr)
• PH 843 Cellular Physiology I (4 cr)
• PH 844 Cellular Physiology II (4 cr)

Psychology (CAS)

• PS 538 Human Brain MapBU Graduate Program in Neuroscienceg
• PS 544 Developmental Neuropsychology
• PS 573 Abstract Thought
• PS 721 A Experimental Psychology: Molecular Genetics in Neurobiology and Behavior
• PS 721B Experimental Psychology: Neurobiology of Learning
• PS 734 Psychopharmacology
• PS 735 Concepts of Motivation
• PS 737 Memory Systems of the Brain
• PS 821 Learning
• PS 822 Visual Perception
• PS 831 Seminar in Neuropsychology (2 credits)
• PS 832 Physiological Psychology
• PS 833 Advanced Physiological Psychology

Courses with a computational emphasis:

Cognitive & Neural Systems (CAS)

• CN 520 Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling II
• CN 530 Neural and Computational Models of Vision
• CN 540 Neural and Computational Models of Adaptive Movement Planning and Control
• CN 550 Neural and Computational Models of Recognition, Memory, and Attention
• CN 560 Neural and Computational Models of Speech Perception and Production
• CN 570 Neural and Computational Models of Conditioning, Reinforcement, Motivation, and Rhythm
• CN 700 Computational and Mathematical Methods in Neural Modeling
• CN 710 Advanced Topics in Neural Modeling
• CN 720 Neural and Computational Models of Planning and Temporal Structure in Behavior
• CN 730 Models of Visual Perception
• CN 740 Topics in Sensory Motor Control
• CN 760 Topics in Speech Perception and Recognition
• CN 780 Topics in Computational Neuroscience
• CN 810 Topics in Cognitive & Neural Systems
• CN 811 Topics in Cognitive & Neural Systems: Visual Perception

Mathematics (CAS)

• MA 555 Numerical Analysis I
• MA 565 Mathematical Models in the Life Sciences
• MA 573 Introduction to the Qualitative Theory of Ordinary Differential Equations
• MA 574 Applied Nonlinear Dynamics
• MA 771 Introduction to Dynamical Systems

Courses with an experimental and computational emphasis:

Biomedical Engineering (ENG)

• BE 515 Diagnostic Imaging Systems
• BE 522 Neural and Sensory Systems
• BE 540 Bioelectric Signals: Analysis and Interpretation
• BE 550 Bioelectromechanics
• BE 570 Introduction to Computational Vision
• BE 701 Auditory Signal Processing: Peripheral
• BE 702 Auditory Signal Processing: Central
• BE 710 Neuralplasticity and Perceptual Learning
• BE 715 Functional Neuroimaging
• BE 732 Neuromuscular Control
• EK 760 Intelligent Systems

For the post-master’s PhD, 32 credits of coursework are required. The required courses are the same as described above for the postbachelor’s PhD. However, depending on the student’s background, one or more of the required courses may be waived in consultation with the course instructors of those courses and subject to approval by the BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience Steering Committee.

For the MA, 32 credits of coursework are required, including the required courses listed above for the PhD degree. For a non-research MA, a library review paper covering a topic agreed upon with the student’s advisor is required. The paper must be approved by the student’s MA committee. For a research MA, the student must submit and orally defend a thesis describing original research performed by the student. The thesis and oral presentation must be approved by the student’s MA committee.

Preliminary Review and Qualifying Examination

For the PhD degree, preliminary reviews and qualifying examinations must be passed. Once the student has passed these exams, she/he is formally a candidate for the PhD in BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience.

Preliminary Review

It is required that students take both survey courses, GRS BI 755 and GRS BI 756/PS 738 to ensure they have a base knowledge of general neuroscience. In certain circumstances, a student may test out of one or more of the survey courses. Students will be monitored in their rotations with evaluations of progress from the cooperating faculty, and through communication with the Program Administrator and Director. A grade of less than a B in either survey course and/or unsatisfactory progress in a rotation will lead to immediate probation of the student. Continued unsatisfactory progress will lead to dismissal from the program. Any problems in the rotation must be reported to the Program Administrator and the Program Director for immediate consultation.

Qualifying Exam

The qualifying examination consists of two parts; one, a written research proposal and two, the oral defense of this research proposal. This exam must be completed prior to September of the third year.

The student, in consultation with the major professor and other parties, submits a written proposal of the intended thesis research. The academic code of conduct applies, and the written document should be from the student’s own hand, not just cutting and pasting old grant proposals, papers, etc. The major professor may have some input in the form of suggestions on content and organization but should not directly edit the document. This proposal should be written in the form of an NRSA grant proposal, and it should include an extensive introduction complete with appropriately cited literature, a list of specific aims, and an outline of the intended experiments. The written proposal must be given to and approved by the qualifying examination committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled examination.

At the examination, the student gives an oral presentation of the proposal. The committee then poses questions related to the intended research, background information, and the field of the work. The committee may also question areas perceived as the student’s weaknesses during the preliminary exam, but only as they pertain to the research proposal. The committee chairman ensures that the questions are relevant and that each committee member has a more-or-less equal opportunity to question the student.

The student’s Qualifying Examination Committee is responsible for grading the exam. More than one failing vote, or a failing vote by the major professor, on the Qualifying Examination constitutes a failure. Any student failing this examination has the opportunity to take it again; at least one month must elapse before a student is allowed to retake the exam. Failure of the second examination is grounds for automatic dismissal from the PhD program and the loss of any further financial aid, although the student may still be eligible for the MA degree provided that those degree requirements are met.

If at least four members of the Qualifying Examination Committee, including at least three of the BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience faculty, vote that the student’s performance on the examination was at a level appropriate for an MA, the student may apply for the degree. In addition, this student must have completed at least 32 credits of graduate level coursework and passed the language examination.

Thesis

For the PhD degree, a dissertation involving original research of publication quality is required. The first reader of the thesis must be a member of the BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience. The Thesis Committee will be composed of at least five members, three of whom must be members of the BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience. The student must submit a written research proposal, which must be approved by the committee after an oral presentation, shortly after taking his/her qualifying examination. The role of the Thesis Committee is to: 1) meet with the student at least once a year to monitor adequate progress on the dissertation; 2) provide advice and guidance on the thesis research; and 3) read the dissertation and serve on the examination committee of the thesis defense. The thesis defense will be composed of a public seminar by the student, and a defense of the dissertation research with the Thesis Committee.

For the research MA, a thesis describing original research is also required. For the nonresearch MA degree, a review paper is required as described earlier. The MA evaluation committee in either case consists of at least three faculty members, of whom at least two must be members of the BU Graduate Program for Neuroscience. The thesis/paper must be approved by the committee.